Brock McGillis has transitioned from professional hockey player to an influential speaker and LGBTQ+ activist, promoting inclusion and mental health awareness across sports and corporate sectors. After publicly coming out as gay in November 2016, becoming one of the first professional hockey players to do so, Brock McGillis transitioned from a professional athlete to a prominent LGBTQ+ activist and speaker. A former professional ice hockey goaltender, his playing career spanned from 2001 to 2010, including the OHL (Windsor Spitfires, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), UHL (Kalamazoo Wings), and Duindam Wolves Den Haag (Netherlands).
In 2020, the Toronto Maple Leafs engaged McGillis to conduct a virtual workshop on homophobia for their personnel, marking the first NHL team collaboration of its kind. Expanding his commitment to the community, he launched the Alphabet Sports Collective in January 2022, an organization supporting LGBTQ+ individuals within the hockey community. His contributions to fostering equity and inclusion have earned him significant recognition. McGillis has been featured in Bob Mackenzie’s book ‘Everyday Hockey Heroes’ and the inspirational compilation ‘Proud To Play.’ In 2018, he graced the cover of and was featured in the September/October issue of IN Magazine.
He shared the stage with Richard Branson and Billy Porter at New York City WorldPride in 2019, delivering powerful messages on acceptance and visibility. Recognized for his advocacy, McGillis was named one of The Hockey News’ 100 Most Influential People in Hockey for three consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024). He is the recipient of the Herbert Carnegie Trailblazer Award (2023) and was named to Queerty Pride50 (2024), recognizing 50 influential LGBTQ+ people of the year. Chosen by the Governor General for the King Charles III Coronation Award, his national impact is clear.
His ongoing work reinforces his position as a significant voice and leader in both sports and social advocacy.